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Rainfall Aiding Drought Stricken Farms
By
Laura Skillman
PRINCETON, Ky., (Oct. 31, 2007) – For months, Kentuckians
anxiously watched the heavens for any chance of rain. Finally,
the sky relented and sent much needed water to the state. The
rains should help replenish farm ponds, provide moisture needed
for recently planted winter wheat and encourage fall growth in
pastures.
Prior to last week’s rains, many parts of the state were about a
foot below normal in rainfall. Western Kentucky through the
Bluegrass area saw almost half of that deficit wiped out during
nearly a week of wet weather, but southeast Kentucky didn’t get
as much precipitation, said Tom Priddy, agricultural
meteorologist with the University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture.
“I don’t think we are out of the woods yet, but we’ve gotten
some breathing room,” he said.
And Priddy is optimistic this may be the beginning of more
moisture to come. Forecasts are calling for La Nina conditions
to strengthen this winter which means wet, mild weather for
Kentucky. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean
temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. Temperatures in the
Pacific play a role in weather across the United States.
“The outlook looks good,” he said. “I hope we go into the next
growing season with the water table replenished.”
On more immediate terms, the rains should help some fall
pastures with cool season grasses to put on some growth in the
next few weeks. The rains will result in a flush of growth, but
how much will be depend on temperatures in November, said Ray
Smith, UK forage specialist. If temperatures can remain in the
40s and 50s in the daytime and not much below freezing at night,
cool season grasses will continue to grow throughout the month.
That could mean some relief for livestock producers worried
about poor pastures and little hay supplies. However, severely
overgrazed pastures are in a weakened state, and they will not
respond as well.
Allowing pastures to recover and put on some growth before
putting cattle in to graze will provide better fall growth and
allow for better grazing, Smith said. This can be done by
continuing to feed hay for a time or limiting access to only a
few fields at a time, allowing others to regrow.
Early November is also a good time to put between 30 to 60
pounds of nitrogen onto pastures. This may allow for some
additional fall growth, but its larger benefit is in improved
stand density, root development for winter and spring growth.
This late fall nitrogen application is a standard recommendation
no matter the year, Smith said.
“These low nitrogen rates may pay off this fall and they will
for sure pay off next year,” Smith said.
On another front, the rains will aid winter wheat that has been
planted in recent weeks. About 60 percent of the state’s winter
wheat crop has been planted, which is ahead of both last year
and the five-year average. Also, as soon as fields are dry
enough for planting, farmers are likely to make quick work of
getting the remainder of the crop in the ground.
“There’s still plenty of time,” said Chad Lee, UK extension
grains crop specialist. “Most of these guys will plant through
the first few weeks of November.”
Wheat acreage is expected to increase this growing season due to
higher than normal prices. Across the soft winter wheat growing
region of the country which includes Kentucky, acreage is
expected to increase by 2 million acres, Lee said.
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Contact: Tom Priddy, 859-257-3000, ext. 245
Ray Smith, 859-257-3358
Chad Lee, 859-257-3203
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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